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NAYPYITAW/KABUL/ISLAMABAD: Afghan government Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah confirmed on Sunday that Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour was killed in a United States (US) drone strike in Pakistan a day earlier.

"Taliban leader Akhtar Mansour was killed in a drone strike in Quetta, Pakistan, at 04:30 pm yesterday. His car was attacked in Dahl Bandin," Abdullah said in a tweet, referring to a district in Balochistan just over the border with Afghanistan.

Afghanistan's main intelligence service, the National Directorate for Security (NDS) also confirmed Mansour's death. "Mansour was being closely monitored for a while... until he was targeted along with other fighters aboard a vehicle," the NDS said.

Pakistan seeks 'clarification' of US strike on Mansour

Pakistan is "seeking clarification" about a US drone strike against Mansour, Foreign Office Spokesman Nafees Zakaria said on Sunday, after US officials earlier said Mansour was 'likely killed' in an air strike on Pakistani soil.

"I have seen the reports. We are seeking clarification," Zakaria said in a statement.

He added that Pakistan wanted the Taliban to return to the negotiating table to end the long war in Afghanistan. "Military action is not a solution," he added.

Notified Nawaz of drone strike, says Kerry

Zakaria's statement comes as US Secretary of State John Kerry earlier on Sunday said that he notified Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif by telephone of a US drone strike that 'likely killed' Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Mansour.

Afghan leadership was also apprised of the air strike ordered by US President Barack Obama, Kerry said, declining to elaborate on the timing of the notifications.

US officials in Washington said on Saturday that US missile-firing drones had conducted strikes targeting Mansour and probably killed him in a strike in Balochistan near the Afghan border.

"Yesterday, the US conducted a precision air strike that targeted Taliban leader Mullah Mansour in a remote area of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Mansour posed a continuing, imminent threat", Kerry told a news conference in the Myanmar capital.

The drone attack comes just days after representatives from the US, China, Pakistan and Afghanistan held another round of negotiations in Islamabad aimed at reviving long-stalled direct peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban.

"This action sends a clear message to the world that we will continue to stand with our Afghan partners as they work to build a more stable, united, secure and prosperous Afghanistan," Kerry said.

"Peace is what we want. Mansour was a threat to that effort and to bringing an end to the violence and suffering people of Afghanistan have endured for so many years now. He was also directly opposed to the peace negotiation and to the reconciliation process," he said.

A senior commander with the Afghan Taliban said the militant group's leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour was killed in a US drone strike. Mullah Abdul Rauf told The Associated Press Sunday that Mansour died in the strike late Friday night. He said the strike took place "in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border area".

Afghan authorities are scrambling to confirm Mansour's fate. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's office on Sunday confirmed the strike, adding that they were investigating whether Mansour had in fact been killed.

"The Afghan government is trying to gather details regarding the fate of Mullah Mansour," the Afghan presidential palace said in a statement. "This drone strike shows that terrorists fuelling conflict will not be safe anywhere."

"Mansour was the target and was likely killed" in the remote town of Ahmad Wal by multiple unmanned aircraft operated by US special operations forces, an American official said Saturday.

They did not confirm whether Mansour was among them but said the bodies had been moved to a hospital in Quetta.

A member of the Quetta Shura, the Taliban's leadership council, told AFP that Mansour had been unreachable on his mobile phone since Saturday night.

"We are not sure if something is really wrong or he purposely switched off his phone fearing an attack," he told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Former ambassador to Afghanistan Rustam Shah Mohmand weighing in on the matter told DawnNews that it is "quite likely" Mansour is dead.

Pakistan's role as mediator in the peace talks will come under question, since Kerry said Nawaz was informed about the drone strike, he said.

The apparent elimination of Mansour, who swiftly consolidated power following a bitter Taliban leadership struggle after the death of Mullah Omar was revealed last year, could spark new succession battles within the fractious movement.

It is possible there may be infighting in the Taliban regarding succession after Mansour's death, particularly between Mullah Omar's brother Mullah Abdul Manan and son Mullah Yaqub, and Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Haqqani network chief, Rustam Shah Mohmand said, as Haqqani was Mansour's deputy and operational commander.

The deaths of Taliban leaders have often been falsely reported, and Mansour himself was rumoured to have been killed last December.

Mansour was formally appointed head of the Afghan Taliban in July last year following the revelation that the group's founder Mullah Omar had been dead for two years.

The group saw a resurgence under the firebrand supremo with striking military victories, helping to cement his authority by burnishing his credentials as a commander.

They briefly captured the strategic northern city of Kunduz in September in their most spectacular victory in 14 years. Southern opium-rich Helmand province is almost entirely under insurgent control.

Comments (98) Closed

US co-operation with Pakistan is vital for peace in region, and U S arms are must by them for Pakistan to eliminate these irritants of the peace.

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Ali Ahmed Bandesha

May 22, 2016 01:37pm

House is burnt by the lamp of house.

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Rational

May 22, 2016 01:39pm

This is clear interference on the working of a sovereign and independent country (Pakistan).
would Pakistan have remained quiet like now, if India had attacked and killed Dawood Ibrahim?

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Salim Khan

May 22, 2016 01:43pm

This is a big setback for Pakistan. USA has killed Mullah Mansoor deep into the Pakistan territory and we are not aware of this attack at all? What are our security forces doing? This is the repeat of Osama Bin Laden attack, as President Obama had to give permission to strike. The world over news are talking of Pakistan role in protecting the Taliban chief. Pakistan is again declared as supporting terrorists.

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The Trusth Seeker

May 22, 2016 01:48pm

Good riddance!

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Aditya

May 22, 2016 01:50pm

Strategic depth in deep trouble!!

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Anand

May 22, 2016 01:50pm

Another most wanted terrorist found inside Pakistan and killed by US. It exposes Pakistan's double standard once again to the world.

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Raja Farhat Abbas Jhelumi

May 22, 2016 01:51pm

This will not end the violence. This killing will make the violence worse in revenge by the Taliban. This is like throwing more fuel on fire.

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AXIS

May 22, 2016 01:55pm

USA doesnt give a damn what anybody thinks about drone attacks in these two nations' Govt or for that matter their military. In World history perhaps never has one nation repeatedly violated the sovereignty of an ally without any response from the violated nations. To rub salt into the wound, USA has stopped giving advance information to Pak and Afghan security establishments of their attacks knowing very well what that the target will be informed. So much for trust between allies.

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GAK Wazir

May 22, 2016 02:06pm

Former British PM Winston Churchill once said, "Americans know solution to a problem confronting them any where in the world. But before coming to the real solution they exhaust all other options including use of unbridled force." The US failed to win war in Afghanistan and thus keenly desire to find a negotiating solution of the Afghan conundrum. For this purpose, it pressurises Pakistan to play its role in ending the crisis in order to bring peace and stability to Afghanistan. Better to think sensibly by Washington before embarking upon an andventurous campaign to avoid frustration in the long run.

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Jibboo

May 22, 2016 02:10pm

Mullah Mansour was a good asset, but may be gone now! The 4-sided negotiations do not include Russia and India: Hence, chances of success are near NIL.

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SK

May 22, 2016 02:11pm

The way Americans are rejoicing and calling Pakistan, it looks like that ISI tipped the target location.

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Kk

May 22, 2016 02:17pm

Seeking clarification? What clarification citizens want's to know.

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mohan

May 22, 2016 02:19pm

Pak leaders crying inside, " why did u kill our national leader. Why us is against our biggest business. Why don't the us have no humanity on my well prepared soldiers."

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Khan

May 22, 2016 02:24pm

The Saga continues!

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Aimal

May 22, 2016 02:24pm

Why the leadership does not understand that Talibans are no good for either Afganistan or Pakistan ? Duplicity is indeed no solution to achieve peace and development.

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Desi Dimag

May 22, 2016 02:24pm

Pakistan has to clarify, what he was doing in Pakistan.

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Justice

May 22, 2016 02:28pm

What clarification? Kerry already phoned our corrupt PM thus no more clarification required. Foreign ministry should stop fooling ordinary Pakistanis with ridiculous statements or make their own worth in our eyes.

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Popular lad

May 22, 2016 02:39pm

What exactly is it they want to clarify? Isn't it clear enough.

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Desi Dimag

May 22, 2016 02:44pm

What was he doing in Pakistan?

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sbk

May 22, 2016 02:46pm

While Afghanistan feels happy at the elimination of Afghanistan Taliban, Pakistan is disturbed about his death. Is it because he was killed in Balochistan by US drone?

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JO10

May 22, 2016 02:48pm

So now what ? within few days a new Taliban leader will emerge. The cycle of violence will continue. The world war 2 ended with negotiation and care for the people. Now the the world has gone crazy and the killing machines are at work. It does not matter who is killing who unless all the parties realize that their is no good killing peace will not be achieved and cycle of violence will continue.

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Feroz

May 22, 2016 02:57pm

The gloves are slowly coming off. Pakistan has been promising the world it had enough influence on the Taliban to bring it to the negotiating table. For over a year the world was duped while the Taliban used the time to regroup and launch multiple attacks on the hapless Afghan people.

Now this dude has been knocked off in Baluchistan, a clear signal to the remaining terrorists to come to the negotiating table or be knocked off. Those opposing reconciliation have been put on notice.

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GoodBad T

May 22, 2016 02:57pm

Pakistan need to scrutinise the exact reason behind all these mess.

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Bubul

May 22, 2016 03:03pm

What clarification do they want? He's dead and gone. Looks like everyone is playing double game in afghan affair, all sides.

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PinkPeacock

May 22, 2016 03:04pm

@Kk
How can one individual who does not even understand the simple meaning of 'seeking clarification', claim to be 'citizens'? And how many citizens does he think he is?

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Rex Minor

May 22, 2016 03:08pm

It would seem that the American not Pakistan special forces are operating in the autonomous tribal territory. The job of the Pak military is to keep the journalsts away from the site and to clear the area from the civilians through areal bombing? Bravo.

Rex Minor

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Ali jee

May 22, 2016 03:08pm

USA making things worse for Pakistan that's all they want

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Abdulla Hussain

May 22, 2016 03:21pm

Some big game is going on against the interest of Pakistan & Afghanistan in the background. Whenever Pakistan brokered peace talks between Afghan government, Afghan Taliban is initiated some harsh action is suddenly taken against Afghan Taliban that derails the peace initiative. The real problem is the civilian government in Pakistan is too tangled with corruption cases and incompetence that proper attention to foreign affairs issues of such great importance is lacking.

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Saeed

May 22, 2016 03:24pm

Its simple really, He wasn't up for peace talks and was not cooperating with our intelligence agencies .. So in other words he had to go

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Tariq Amir

May 22, 2016 03:29pm

Good news. No need to negotiate. Just cooperate with Afghanistan and US and eliminate them on both sides of the border. No matter how long or how costly that can prove to be. Because there is no other way.

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SAEED MASOOD

May 22, 2016 03:34pm

This will not bring peace to Afghanistan it will bring more terror and destruction..
more Afghans will be killed now...peace will come only when America and India will leave and Afghanistan will have a popular Government...

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Tamil Guru

May 22, 2016 03:36pm

One more bad element gone. Good for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

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Abbas Khan

May 22, 2016 03:37pm

Gala day and good news for some people but at the same time mourning day and murder news for others nothing this news will hatch for those who are trapped into the fetters of poverty, injustice, inequality, inequity, unemployment, ransomers, absconders, thieves, spies, scriptwriters, wrong number dialers, obnoxious callers, spammers, chaos creators, mudslinging, hoodwinking, which hunting and negative campaigners

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Nasiroski

May 22, 2016 03:39pm

Why was he roaming around in Pakistan unchecked?

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Raj

May 22, 2016 03:40pm

It is clear that the US did the drone strike unilaterally similar to the killing of Osama without the knowledge of Pakistan. Beacuse, everyone knows that, if told in advance, the information would have been passed on to the Afghan Taliban. But, it could be the other way also that, in order to get the F16 deals going, Pakistan must have helped US to target the afghan taliban. Possible.

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M. Malik

May 22, 2016 03:44pm

Sec. of State Kerry, apparently informed NS before the attack that killed Mullah Mansour. Now Pakistan is seeking 'clarification'?

Clarification of what? That he's indeed dead, or are more targets to follow??

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Ind

May 22, 2016 03:50pm

US has confused policy for Taliban
one day US want to talk to Taliban, next day US kill their leader.
Then US blame Pakistan for peace talks failure.

Infect US does not want peace in the Afghanistan and created a mess.

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Noshkities

May 22, 2016 03:53pm

I am a citizen of nushki and this news is being revolved truely

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Abdul Basit

May 22, 2016 03:54pm

As usual just as Pakistan tries to close down on a peace deal US drone strikes make sure that the instability and war continues.

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The Reluctant Fundamentalist

May 22, 2016 03:57pm

Afghanistan has just been pushed into another civil war by the US. Good luck to Afghanistan.

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Imran Soomro

May 22, 2016 03:59pm

One Mansoor killed. Another will come. This US strategy had long been failed to bring peace and prosperity in Afghanistan. In fact US flawed policies have contributed to pervasive instability in the entire region. Afghans should question US failed strategies and hold it culpable for all that has been going on.

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Jaggu

May 22, 2016 04:17pm

@Nasiroski he crossed the border from Iran. Why wasn't he targeted in Iran? Who tipped that he is coming?

Were the Americans not trying to bring him to negotiating table for 'peace talks'? And now they got him killed!!!

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Asad

May 22, 2016 04:21pm

Pakistani soil...again.

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mb

May 22, 2016 04:21pm

path is clear for f16 and 450 m$ aid

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Ahmed

May 22, 2016 04:24pm

It is crystal clear

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muhammad farooq

May 22, 2016 04:31pm

In Baluchistan? Strange but not strange.

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Concerned Pakistani

May 22, 2016 04:32pm

Job well done.

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Irad

May 22, 2016 04:44pm

Afghan Taliban is a cocktail of multiple ingredients, chief among them are unlimited arms supply, drugs & cross-border support. Removing one ingredient does not make the cocktail, less potent.

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TRON

May 22, 2016 04:50pm

"The drone attack comes just days after representatives from the US, China, Pakistan and Afghanistan held another round of negotiations in Islamabad aimed at reviving long-stalled direct peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban." And he was killed. Pakistan may face backlash in home.

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FYi

May 22, 2016 04:51pm

clarification .... why?

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ali

May 22, 2016 04:54pm

Pakistan government should kick out all Taliban terrorist .after Peshawar attack we decided there is no good or bad Taliban

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M.Saeed

May 22, 2016 05:04pm

History tells us several killings of the same Taliban chief and still not proved. Already Taliban Shoura is refuting this claim.

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Tahir

May 22, 2016 05:20pm

another digrace to pakistan

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Khuzdar Voice

May 22, 2016 05:31pm

Another chief killed, the new will be searched out and the war not seemingly finding an end; now Pakistan's Balochistan province is targetted with drone for the first time. Would impact the Taliban militancy in Afghanistan.

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Zaman Khan

May 22, 2016 05:32pm

Pakistan wanted to get rid of him. he was not flexible person

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sbk

May 22, 2016 05:34pm

Afghanistan Talibans are hiding in Pakistan, while the Pakistan Talibans are hiding in Afghanistan. Can anybody explain what is going on?

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Desi Dimag

May 22, 2016 05:35pm

The USA has shot the bullseye. Let's see what do FO and ISPR says.

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Zak

May 22, 2016 05:38pm

There goes the peace initiative. Pakistan should back off from trying to mend Afghanistan.

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SQ

May 22, 2016 05:39pm

What clarification is required from USA? Clarification should be provided by the government of Pakistan and our army and intelligence instead, to the people of this country - why was he in Pakistan in the first place?

Now the negotiations will suffer again and Afghanistan maybe pushed to a retaliatory move by Taliban. Pakistan should not felicitate any further talks.

Let Afghanistan and US sort out the matter on their own, either through force or negotiations.

Whatever, influence Pakistan had with Taliban should be abandoned. Pakistan's policy should be "Whoever, controls Afghanistan; Pakistan will establish diplomatic relationship with it" and for any hostile Afghan Govt. Pakistan will maintain a prudent disposition towards it.

At the end of the day it's Afghans who must figure out a way to establish a structure for leadership and Govt.

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Bala

May 22, 2016 06:18pm

I have simple question

How can US use Pakistan soil for an attack? Government should specify is there mutual agreement ?
If yes at what cost?
If no how is this possible?

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Farhan

May 22, 2016 06:20pm

@Imran Soomro Another Mansoor may come but on Pakistani soil is deplorable and shows our failure.

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M. Siddique

May 22, 2016 06:23pm

Good ridden. Next.

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Muhammad Iqbal

May 22, 2016 06:25pm

@Desi Dimag . Good question. Remember OBL operation. Similarities.

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M. Siddique

May 22, 2016 06:26pm

@Desi Dimag, You must be ignorant of geography. The Pak-Afghan border is most porous in the world. There are over 3 million Afghans live in Pakistan many others move back and forth.

Per opinion polls Taliban are not popular in Afghanistan. Same in Pakistan too.

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Ayaz

May 22, 2016 07:22pm

This happens when people start working for other countries instead of building their own country. Mansur and many more Mansur will continue to die unless they devote their energies to building Afghanistan.

Block NATO supplies in response to this terrorist attack. Better stand up to the bully.

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MAM

May 22, 2016 07:52pm

Read the Kerry statement carefully, it say PM was notified of drone strike that likely killed Mansoor. Now US with media, is creating all kind of confusion. Now it is a question how we move and react to it.

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Hamza k

May 22, 2016 08:15pm

@Asad monitoring the border is not just pakistans job

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Ravi Vancouver

May 22, 2016 08:34pm

@M. Malik Pakistan need to clarify from US for violating Pakistan's sovereignty by using US drone in Baluchistan. Apparently NS was informed about it and may be something in return may be promised by US to Pakistan. Pakistan has to stand up against such violations of Its sovereignty at any cost, its own military is strong and fully capable to deal with terrorists on its soil.

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Gulrez Khan

May 22, 2016 08:46pm

US & Pakistan should not celebrate as there are still 1000's of like minded terrorists alive. They should be eliminated ruthlessly so that peace is restored to Pakistan & Afghanistan.

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Gourishankar Panicker

May 22, 2016 08:58pm

How can Pakistan allow another country to bomb it's territory ? This is outrageous.

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Hiwad

May 22, 2016 09:01pm

@Jaggu cause he was not coming from Iran, he was travelling inside the Pak soil. Probably from one point to another!!

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azmat

May 22, 2016 09:01pm

First Osama, then Mulah Omar, now Mullah Mansoor,
what are our priorities ?
have'nt we learned any thing from our prior experiences. ?

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Khan , USA

May 22, 2016 10:17pm

US drones can find them but not out men on grounds !

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Prateik

May 22, 2016 10:56pm

USA is striking within Pakistan at will.

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Haider

May 22, 2016 10:56pm

He was coming after a months long stay in Iran. Why wasn't he targeted there? Who tipped off? What was he doing there in the first place?

Iran has a lot of questions that it needs to answer. The brotherly mantra should be stopped with both Afghanistan and Iran. Improve your ties with Arab world or you will be left with very little friends.

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gknatarajan

May 22, 2016 10:58pm

@Hope. u.s. drones only kill such terrorists, not arms\jets procured by pak.
in the name of fighting terrorists! thi is ostrich mentality?

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asad lateef

May 23, 2016 01:20am

@Desi Dimag what he was doing in Iran before crossing over to Pakistan?who is calling the shots from Iran and Pakistan end.Dame about the establishments in both countries.cat and mouse game is on. first Iran pointed out an top Indian agent on pak soil,this time afghan Taliban leader,Is it coincidence?

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Akil Akhtar

May 23, 2016 05:36am

These militants come across the border from Iran or Afghanistan but only targeted when they enter Pakistan as part of the propaganda campaign against Pakistan.

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Assamese

May 23, 2016 06:24am

What on earth these terrorists are doing in Pakistan? OBL and and now this one.

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Abdul Karim

May 23, 2016 06:26am

Why should Pakistan get involve in Afghan peace process? Afghan government is not interested nor the Taliban nor US. So why is Pakistan wasting its time with Afghan peace, reconciliation and stability. It is time to take some effective measures to safeguard Pakistan's security and peace. One, Pakistan must fence and seal the borders with Afghanistan. Second, Pakistan need to suspend its participation from Afghan, US, Taliban peace talks because both countries & Taliban are not sincere in solving crisis in the region. Afghanistan's internal problem with Taliban and US is Afghanistan's problem and Pakistan must act to secure its borders and security/safety of its people. Let Taliban and Afghan/US government find solution to the Afghan problem. Pakistan should have nothing to do with that. Pakistan's foreign policy change is needed.

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Singh

May 23, 2016 09:54am

International community will seek clarification ..not you my friend..what he was doing on your soil..roaming freely in your safe heaven..

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Amit Dawra

May 23, 2016 11:06am

Not telling the Pakistani army beforehand was a good idea. Can't trust them

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Vish

May 23, 2016 11:56am

@asad lateef he was doing the same before crossing over to Iran V/s Pakistan

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Rohit Singh

May 23, 2016 04:40pm

@Ravi Vancouver "its own military is strong and fully capable to deal with terrorists on its soil."

Yes they are capable but what if they dont want to take care of that

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rahat

May 23, 2016 04:56pm

@Singh What do you mean by international community? US and its few European stooges? They themselves to be blamed for the killings of millions of people in Afghanistan and middle east.